Creating a keto chicken salad recipe on your own can be daunting. Many things, if not everything could go wrong. You could mess up the portions and increase the carb count, drown the chicken in too many different seasonings, or create a bad-tasting dressing. Because of these and more, a lot of people choose to use recipes they find online or from their dietitians. Here are some keto-friendly, healthy, and delicious keto chicken salad recipes if you are on the hunt for some.
Is Chicken Keto-Friendly?
Poultry and meat are staples in a keto diet. This means you can enjoy chicken while on this diet plan as a main dish, in your salads, or as a fast food option (10). Unfortunately, many are unfamiliar with tasty keto chicken salad recipes to try. So, you may find them stuck on just one recipe, which eventually makes everything bland. Here are easy chicken salad recipes to try when on keto:
Easy Keto Chicken Salad Recipe (6)
This simple keto chicken salad recipe is a must-try if you need a summer salad quick fix. It is loaded with healthy ingredients that should fill your body with essential nutrients and
Ingredients (6):
- 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken
- 2 boiled eggs, chopped
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans
- 1/4 cup chopped dill pickles
- 1/4 cup minced yellow onion
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tsp. yellow mustard
- 1 tsp. white distilled vinegar
- 1 tsp. fresh dill
- Salt and pepper to taste
Preparation (6):
- Add everything except the chicken to a mixing bowl, then stir well to combine.
- Afterwards, add the chicken and stir well to coat.
- Add the salt and pepper and taste. Adjust as desired.
- Chill for an hour before serving for the best flavor.
Nutritional Profile (6):
The following recipe yields four servings. However, the nutritional profile for one serving is as follows:
- Calories: 394
- Total fat: 33 g
- Total carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 21 g
Read More: Eggplant Lasagna Keto: A Delicious Low Carb Alternative
Creamy Keto Chicken Salad (1)
Are you craving mayonnaise in your salad? If that is the case, then this recipe is perfect for you. It utilizes low-carb mayonnaise to add a creamy flavor to your chicken salad. Additionally, it gives you a range of choices on how to serve the salad, including having it in a bowl or lettuce wraps. Take a look at the recipe:
Ingredients (1):
- 2 cups of cooked chicken breast, shredded
- 1/4 cup red onion, chopped
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp. celery, chopped
- 1 tbsp. lemon juice
- 2 tsp. fresh dill, chopped
- 1 tbsp. yellow mustard
- 1/2 tsp. black pepper
- Lettuce leaves, optional
- Salt to taste
Preparation (1):
- Mix everything well together in a large bowl until they are well combined.
- Transfer to a salad bowl or add lettuce and serve like a wrap.
Nutritional Profile (1):
The nutritional profile for one serving is as follows:
- Calories: 315
- Total fat: 24 g
- Total carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 22 g
Easy Homemade Keto Chicken Salad (4)
This easy and low-carb chicken salad recipe is the to-go-to when you need to fix your salad in less than 15 minutes! It is nutritious, super delicious, and healthy.
Ingredients (4):
- 4 cups of shredded chicken or other leftover chicken
- 6 pieces bacon, diced
- 4 celery stalks, diced
- 1 cup of olives, sliced
- 1/2 cup mayo
- 1 tbsp. lemon juice (about 1/2 lemon)
- 1 tbsp. fresh dill, chopped
- 1 tbsp. mustard
- Salt and pepper to taste
Preparation (4):
- Dice the bacon and let it cook over medium heat for 6 to 8 minutes, occasionally stirring, until the bacon is brown and crispy. Remove and let it cool on a paper towel-lined plate.
- Elsewhere, cut up the celery and olives while the bacon is cooking.
- Add the shredded chicken, mustard, mayo, lemon juice, and chopped dill to the bowl with the celery and olives. When cooled, add the bacon and mix everything well together. Taste and season with salt and pepper as desired.
- You can refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours to completely cool everything off for optimal taste by allowing the flavors to combine.
- You can serve as is or with chopped pistachios if desired.
Nutritional Profile (4):
- Calories: 535
- Total fat: 39 g
- Total carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 41 g
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Low Carb Keto Chicken Salad (9)
This chicken salad recipe checks so many keto boxes: it has low carbs and is nutritious, healthy, and refreshing. It is also a quick comfort food fix in case you need to prepare something quick for a picnic. Here is an overview of the recipe:
Ingredients (9):
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 3 cups cooked chicken, shredded
- 1/2 cup green onions, chopped
- 2 tbsp. mustard
- 2 tbsp. fresh parsley, chopped
- 2 tbsp. fresh dill, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- Sea salt
- Black pepper
Preparation (9):
- Stir together in a bowl the mustard, mayonnaise, fresh parsley, fresh dill, and garlic until smooth.
- Stir in the green onions and chicken, then season with sea salt and black pepper to taste.
- Refrigerate for about two hours before serving.
Nutritional Profile (9):
The nutritional profile for one serving (half a cup) is as follows:
- Calories: 175
- Total fat: 12 g
- Total carbohydrates: 1 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 16 g
Classic Shredded Keto Chicken Salad (7)
This creamy, tasty, and easy-to-make shredded keto chicken salad is the perfect go-to chicken salad. And get this, it is filled with just 1 g net carbs per serving! This is a must-try, especially if you need a quick lunch or snack fix. Check out the recipe.
Ingredients (7):
- 3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or 2 ¼ pounds cooked chicken
- One 32 oz. carton chicken broth or stock
- 1 ¼ cups finely diced celery
- 1 ¼ cups mayonnaise plus more to taste
- ¼ cup minced onion optional
- 1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
- 1 ½ – 2 tsp. salt to taste
Preparation (7):
To Cook The Chicken
Note: Skip this step if you use the 2 ¼ pounds (36 oz.) cooked chicken with the skin removed. Instead, skip and go directly to the “To Make the Keto Chicken Salad” section.
- Place the chicken breasts in a wide skillet and cover with the chicken stock or broth.
- Let the liquid boil, then lower the heat to simmer. Cover and cook for 20 to 25 minutes until the chicken breasts are cooked through. You can insert an internal meat thermometer into the center of the chicken breast, which should read 160° Fahrenheit.
- Remove the chicken from the skillet and reserve the broth. Let the chicken rest for about five minutes. It should reach an internal temperature of 165° Fahrenheit within that time.
- Shred the chicken using your preferred method. It could be using two forks, a food processor, a hand mixer, a stand mixer, or your hands/fingers.
To Make The Keto Chicken Salad
- Mix the shredded chicken, celery, mayonnaise, ground black pepper, onion, and salt in a large bowl. Stir well to combine.
- Add the chicken broth to the mixture in one-tablespoon increments while continuously stirring until you get the desired texture and consistency. Taste and add more mayonnaise if desired.
- Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate until chilled.
Nutritional Profile (7):
The profile for one serving is as follows:
- Calories: 437
- Total fat: 31 g
- Total carbohydrates: 1 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 37 g
Read More: 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Fat Bombs | Healthy Snacks For Keto
Low-Carb Chicken Salad For Keto (8)
Here is another easy fix if you are busy but still craving chicken salad. It is an excellent lunch idea but also a fantastic meal prep idea.
Ingredients (8):
- 3 cups (350 g) chicken breast, cooked and shredded (get rotisserie chickens or cook it yourself)
- celery rib (about 50 g) sliced into “U” shaped pieces
- 2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
- ¼ cup (28 g) chopped pecans
- ½ (80 g) diced red onion
- ½ cup (120 g) mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp. (15 g) Dijon mustard
- ½ tbsp. (10 g) fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp. (5 g) rice vinegar
- 1 tsp. fresh dill
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 3 (85 g) multi-colored mini peppers, diced (optional)
Preparation (8):
- Start by shredding 2 medium-sized chicken breasts.
- Chop the eggs, celery, and pecans, and add them to the bowl with the shredded chicken
- Dice the onion into tiny pieces, and add them to the bowl.
- Then, add the mustard, mayo, vinegar, salt, dill, and pepper to that bowl. Note that you add the lemon juice if you are eating it then. If that is the case, add some fresh lemon juice to the salad before serving.
- Mix everything until they are well combined.
- Chill for an hour if the chicken is hot, or serve immediately if it is cold.
- You can store the leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Nutritional Profile (8):
The profile for one serving is as follows:
- Calories: 437
- Total fat: 31 g
- Total carbohydrates: 1 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 37 g
Keto Chicken & Bacon Salad (5)
This chicken and bacon salad is perfect if you are tired of the typical garden salad. This is not to say that it is bad, but eating it over and over could make it seem bland. How about you try this tasty high-fat yet low-carb keto chicken and bacon salad.
Ingredients (5):
- 3/4 pound chicken thigh, boneless and skinless
- 6 strips of cooked bacon, crumbled
- 4 cups of wild lettuce mix
- 3 oz. blue cheese, crumbled
- 1 large tomato, chopped
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. black pepper, divided
For The Dressing:
- 3 tbsp. red wine vinegar
- 3 tbsp. olive oil
- 3/4 tsp. Dijon mustard
- 3/4 tsp. sugar substitutes such as erythritol or xylitol
Preparation (5):
- Season the chicken with half the black pepper and salt, then let it cook in a skillet for about six minutes on each side and over medium-high heat. You can tell if the chicken is well cooked when its temperature is about 165°F.
- Let it rest and cool. When cooled, roughly chop it.
- Mix the dressing ingredients in a small bowl and whisk vigorously until they are well combined.
- Divide the lettuce among the bowls, then add the tomatoes, blue cheese, chopped chicken, and crumbled bacon.
- Drizzle with the dressing and top with the remaining black pepper.
- Enjoy!
Nutritional Profile (5):
A serving of this salad provides the following nutrients:
- Calories: 342
- Total fat: 25 g
- Total carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 26 g
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Easy Keto Chicken Salad With Bacon (2)
Here is another keto chicken salad with bacon recipe to try! Its flavors are to die for, thanks to its combination of flavorful spices like dill and pepper. Additionally, it has a crunchy texture to it due to bacon. Here is the recipe’s overview:
Ingredients (2):
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded
- 1/2 cup finely chopped celery
- ¼ cup crumbled bacon
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp. finely chopped red onion
- 1 tbsp. fresh dill
- 1 tbsp. Dijon mustard
- 2 tbsp. fresh chives
- ¼ tsp. freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ tsp. salt
Preparation (2):
- Prepare the dressing in a medium bowl by stirring the mustard, mayonnaise, chives, dill, salt, and pepper.
- Stir in the cooked chicken, bacon, celery, and red onion.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning, salt, and pepper, accordingly.
Nutritional Profile (2):
Although this salad recipe yield four servings, the profile of one serving is as follows:
- Calories: 315
- Total fat: 21 g
- Total carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 27 g
Low-Carb Keto Chicken Salad With Grapes (11)
There are many debates about whether grapes are good for ketosis or not. According to most experts, grapes are not considered keto-friendly because of their high carb content, at least not as a stand-alone snack. But in this recipe, the author has played around with them so they do not increase the overall carb count. They introduce a perfectly sweet taste in the recipe, which is all you need if you have a sweet tooth. Take a look at the recipe:
Ingredients (11):
- 1 ½ lb. cooked chicken, shredded
- ¼ cup finely chopped onions
- ½ cup chopped grapes
- ¾ cup mayonnaise or veganaise for egg free
- ½ cup chopped walnuts or nuts of choice
- ¼ – ½ tsp. black pepper – to taste
- ½ – 1 tsp. sea salt – to taste
- Balsamic vinaigrette, for serving
Preparation (11):
- Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with a Silpat baking mat or parchment paper. Here, spread the chopped walnuts and toast them until fragrant, about 7 to 8 minutes. Set aside and allow to cool.
- Chop the onion and grapes.
- Mix the Veganaise or homemade mayo, shredded chicken, grapes, walnuts, onion, salt, and pepper in a large mixing bowl. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed.
- Cover and let it rest in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to an hour.
- Serve over toasted gluten-free bread with balsamic vinegar or over lettuce with balsamic vinegar. The balsamic vinegar adds a sweet taste that makes this salad even yummier!
- You can store the chicken salad covered in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days. But do not leave it at room temperature for over two hours.
Nutritional Profile (11):
A 1/6th serving of this recipe provides the following nutrients:
- Calories: 341
- Total fat: 24 g
- Total carbohydrates: 4 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 28 g
Easy Thai Chicken Salad With Canned Chicken (3)
Here is a tasty canned chicken salad recipe to try. It is one of those recipes that you keep coming back to.
Ingredients (3):
For The Salad:
- 10 oz. chicken cooked (two 5 oz. cans were used)
- 16 oz. coleslaw mix or broccoli slaw
- 1 large green onion
For The Dressing:
- 6 tbsp. coconut aminos or soy or tamari sauce
- 2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
- 4 tbsp. peanut butter or another nut/seed butter
- 2 tbsp. avocado oil
- 15 drops of stevia liquid or 1 tbsp. bulk low carb sweetener
- ½ tsp. fresh ginger minced
Preparation (3):
- Mix all the salad ingredients in a large bowl until they are well combined. Set aside.
- Blend the dressing ingredients, then pour over the salad. Toss it so that everything is evenly coated with the dressing. Garnish with the sliced green onion.
Nutritional Profile (3):
A one-bowl serving provides the following nutrients:
- Calories: 181
- Total fat: 12 g
- Total carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 9g
The Bottom Line
Many things can go wrong when creating a keto chicken salad by yourself. So, most people use recipes they find online or get from their friends and dietitians. However, today we have unveiled simple yet yummy recipes you can prepare in less than 15 minutes. They are perfect lunch and meal prep ideas. But remember to consult your dietitian before embracing them in your keto diet plan.
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SOURCES:
- Creamy Keto Chicken Salad (2022, gimmedelicious.com)
- Easy Keto Chicken Salad With Bacon (2022, greenandketo.com)
- Easy Thai Chicken Salad With Canned Chicken (2021, lowcarbyum.com)
- Homemade Keto Chicken Salad Recipe (2022, realsimplegood.com)
- Keto Chicken & Bacon Salad (2021, delightfullylowcarb.com)
- Keto Chicken Salad (2021, thatlowcarblife.com)
- Keto Chicken Salad (Classic Shredded Chicken Salad) (2021, 40aprons.com)
- KETO CHICKEN SALAD | THE BEST, EASY, LOW CARB CHICKEN SALAD RECIPE FOR KETO (2020, thedietchefs.com)
- Low Carb Keto Chicken Salad (2022, wholesomeyum.com)
- Low-Carb Choices for Fast Food (2021, webmd.com)
- Low-Carb Keto Chicken Salad With Grapes (2021, cassidyscraveablecreations.com)